Dameun Unusual, a distinguished sound artist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer, delves into the themes of the African diaspora by means of his progressive chamber and digital compositions. He explores these narratives by means of an Afrofuturist lens, drawing inspiration from West African polyrhythms, synthesizers, jazz harmonies, and located sounds. His performances transcend genres, weaving collectively ancestral tales with fashionable expressions.
All through his inventive journey, Unusual steadily built-in Afrofuturism and electro-acoustic components into his work. Reflecting on his earlier creations, he acknowledges that they usually emerged from a predominantly white narrative, leaving him disconnected. He discovered his true ardour in exploring the Black expertise, notably by means of his music cycle, The Dream Variations, impressed by the poetry of Langston Hughes that contemplates goals.
“In creating the music cycle, I revisited early Gospel influences, spirituals, and jazz requirements. This was the primary occasion the place I felt I had captured the sound I desired, motivating me to proceed on this artistic path. Throughout this course of, I sought methods to combine the brand new applied sciences I used to be studying about, trying to find a voice that resonated with my musical identification,” he recollects.
A major milestone got here when Unusual acquired a fee from the Cedar Cultural Middle in Minneapolis to curate an experimental program. This chance allowed him to mix acoustic and digital music. “I noticed it as an opportunity to experiment, main me to compose an operetta titled Helianthus. It tells the story of the 4 generations of girls who raised me, incorporating themes of time journey, Afrofuturism, and connections to my ancestors for the primary time,” he shares.
Nevertheless, adhering to conventional Western notation proved to be a hindrance when collaborating with musicians of various ability ranges. This led Unusual to think about creating extra accessible scores, fostering inclusivity in performances. “I started to discover graphic scores—a medium I’ve lengthy been excited by. As soon as I began experimenting with several types of notation, my artistic power sparked to life,” he explains.
He drew inspiration from African patterns and prints, which allowed him to hyperlink his musical notation to each Pan-African and Black African artwork. “Afrofuturism manifests in my work not solely by means of the sounds and themes I discover but additionally within the visible representations I create to convey the tales behind the music,” he notes.
Lately, Unusual was honored to be chosen as composer-in-residence for the 2025-26 season by the Affiliation for the Development of Inventive Musicians (AACM), coinciding with their sixtieth anniversary. This appointment follows years of mentorship and collaboration with composer and conductor Renee Baker, the present interim director of the AACM.
“Renee realized of my work and commenced following my profession. We continuously mentioned our respective inventive journeys, and her curiosity in my perspective on composition and graphic scores deepened. When she reached out with the proposition of being composer-in-residence, I used to be thrilled, as this was unprecedented for the AACM,” Unusual shares.
His residency on the AACM will encompass a listening alternate, the place he’ll curate influential works by AACM composers and collaborate with members of the group on his commissioned piece. Spring will characteristic discussions and roundtables with AACM performers relating to his works, culminating in open rehearsals and a live performance premiere in June.
“I’m genuinely enthusiastic about immersing myself within the Chicago music scene, participating in significant conversations with different artists. The wealthy musical heritage of Chicago has profoundly influenced my work, and collaborating with such a historic group is a major milestone for me,” he expresses.
Initially from the Twin Cities, Unusual attended Macalester School in St. Paul, the place he fell in love with the colourful arts scene, appreciating the cross-pollination between varied disciplines. “I arrived within the early 90s and was captivated not simply by music, however by the general arts neighborhood,” he displays.
Throughout his time in faculty, Unusual was usually the one Black pupil regardless of Macalester’s worldwide focus. He studied African drumming, composition, and poetry whereas at present pursuing graduate research in composition on the College of Minnesota.
“Initially, music wasn’t my meant area of research; as a first-generation faculty pupil, I deliberate to pursue political science and economics, influenced by my great-grandmother, Alma, who raised me. She did not envision a path in music for me. Macalester appealed to me because of its worldwide method, aligning with my curiosity in world affairs,” he reminisces.
“My faculty advisor was within the music division and inspired me to audition for the jazz band as a saxophonist. I noticed this might deliver me pleasure throughout my faculty years and assist me navigate a predominantly much less numerous world. Music turned a necessary supply of energy, prompting me to give attention to writing and blend English with my musical pursuits,” he notes.
From a younger age, Unusual harbored aspirations of changing into a composer, even when uncertain of the trail ahead. “I engaged with music early on, experimenting with devices. A highschool mentor urged me to undertake an impartial research targeted on writing, primarily utilizing my ear somewhat than concept,” he recollects.
“At school, I joined my advisor’s composition class, which marked my first substantial engagement with composing and understanding its ideas. It was thrilling to study varied musical notations past the standard five-line employees, which ignited my ardour for exploring numerous musical kinds,” he provides.
As an expert musician, Unusual expanded his repertoire, exploring different devices and genres. “For a number of years, I stepped again from composing to immerse myself within the vibrant music scene. I initially performed a whole lot of horn, then transitioned to synthesizers in a band setting. Whereas I had at all times been fascinated by synths, monetary constraints made it onerous to put money into devices,” he explains.
“Ultimately, I experimented with my Korg synthesizer. As I turned more proficient with laptop applications, my journey into digital music started, fueling my want to problem pop conventions whereas persevering with to safe gigs,” he shares.
Entertaining the colourful neighborhood of the Twin Cities can show troublesome for newcomers. Nevertheless, Unusual discovered his artistic area of interest by means of arts advocacy, participating in causes resembling marriage equality and political activism. “Music holds the ability to light up lesser-known tales and unite individuals, permitting them to share their narratives. I take into account myself lucky to be a part of a various inventive neighborhood that evokes and uplifts one another,” he asserts.
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